580EX flash stuck in Master mode

My flash is stuck in master and wont go to slave or turn off master. So I took off the bottom foot part and the tiny little switch that turns the flash from off/master/slave is broken - the lever on the switch broke.

Anyone had seen this before? I'm gonna call canon and see if I can get that switch and resolder it. My second 580ex is working great!

anyone has a diagram for 580ex?? Thanks!

For the hassle just send it to Canon.

tim wrote in post #7301709
For the hassle just send it to Canon.

Not worth it to me Tim... I've replaced shutters before, so I know I can fix this if I have the right part. Canon wanted $175 or something like that to get this fixed. At that price I can sell this flash as it and get me 580exII.
But it's ok for now, I use it off camera in M about %70 of the time and the rest, on cam.

yuriyo923 wrote in post #6710649
My flash is stuck in master and wont go to slave or turn off master. So I took off the bottom foot part and the tiny little switch that turns the flash from off/master/slave is broken - the lever on the switch broke.

Anyone had seen this before? I'm gonna call canon and see if I can get that switch and resolder it. My second 580ex is working great!

yuriyo2:
Exactly the same issue on mine ... tiny, fragile little plastic tab that engages with back of the external switch is sheared off. It's possible to move it into one of the three positions with a sharp object without the foot attached ... but ... hardly worth the trouble. Meanwhile I just leave it master mode.

Any such luck finding that tiny square switch and/or the entire board that it mates to? Any other work-around that you've discovered?

Thanks ... Rick Crider

yuriyo923 wrote in post #7300782
anyone has a diagram for 580ex?? Thanks!

If you do a Google search on "Speedlite 580EX parts catalog", you might get a hit on the pdf file that shows an exploded view of the 580EX. If not, you should be able to find one for the 550EX flash.

Crider wrote in post #9416611
yuriyo2:
Exactly the same issue on mine ... tiny, fragile little plastic tab that engages with back of the external switch is sheared off. It's possible to move it into one of the three positions with a sharp object without the foot attached ... but ... hardly worth the trouble. Meanwhile I just leave it master mode.

Any such luck finding that tiny square switch and/or the entire board that it mates to? Any other work-around that you've discovered?

Thanks ... Rick Crider

No such luck.. Canon wants I think around $85 for the whole board and don't sell that switch alone. I sold that flash a while back as-is on ebay. Look for parts flash on ebay, you might get one for around $100-150 than turn around and resell it Good luck~

PacAce wrote in post #9417095
If you do a Google search on "Speedlite 580EX parts catalog", you might get a hit on the pdf file that shows an exploded view of the 580EX. If not, you should be able to find one for the 550EX flash.

Here you go:

http://www.strappe.com …phy/Speedlite%2​0580EX.pdf

Wow. Thanks for uploading that. A little late for me! I searched in vein for that for the last two months, before giving up and going it alone.

I replaced the broken LCD on my 580EX. Was a bit scary. If anyone wants to do the same, I'll probably post how I did it. I took some photos of the process, but lacked a flash, so they are a bit dodgy!

One thing to look out for when disassembling a 580EX... there is a tiny ball and spring for the master/slave select switch, this is very easy to dislodge/loose. I did not realise this and ended up having to disassemble again to get the switch to work.